Escalator



June 14,1960 E. A. CLEMETSEN ETAL 2,940,578

ESCALATOR Filed July 27, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS EQLINAC'ZEMET-S'EN d M1 Z/ W THE/1Q HTTURNE'YS June 14, 1960 E. A. CLEMETSEN ETAL 2,9

ESCALATOR Filed July 27, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. AWL/1116A 61544513041 0 1/0 625/1457" 04/ United States Patent ESCALATOR Erling A. Clemetsen and John A. Clemetsen, both of 500 N. Sheridan Road, Wilmette, 111.

Filed July 27, 1959, Ser. No. 829,611

13 Claims. (Cl. 198-16) Another object of our invention is in the provision in an apparatus of this character of a novel arrangement of parts so constructed as to afford ready adjustment between varying floor levels.

Yet another object of our invention is in the provision in an apparatus of this character of a new and novel drive mechanism.

A further important object of our invention is in the provision in an apparatus of this character of a step wheel transferring means between running and reversing tracks.

An additional object of our invention is in the provision of an apparatus of this character which employs upper and lower sections which are pre-fabricated and which may be simply joined together upon installation to achieve a complete single standardized unit.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form .of construction, and in which:

Fig. l is a schematic side elevational view of our improved escalator;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detailed perspective view of one side of one end of the track construction;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detailed perspective view similar to Fig. 2 but showing certain parts thereof in an wheel and track transferring arrangement of our invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detailed view of a modified form of wheel arrangements for the step train;

Fig. 11 is a side elevational schematic view of the drive mechanism employed in our escalator;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detailed view showing the driving connection between a portion of a step and the drive mechanism;

ice

Fig. 13 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 13-43 of- Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of our improved landing treadway.

In prior art practice the conveyor systems have re quired the operational functions of sprocket wheels at each level adjacent the track ends for driving and reversing the direction of the step train of such escalators. The drive mechanisms included an endless chain associated with such sprocket wheels. In our present invention these elements and their functions have been omitted.

Our invention pertains to an escalator for use in a semi-private establishment such as a home, multi-level factory or business ofiice, motel or hotel. However, this particular statement of the purpose of our invention is not intended to limit the use of our invention in any manner.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Fig. 1, there is shown in a schematic view an escalator for conveying passengers between two floor levels which are represented as landings 10 and 11. Our escalator as it extends between landings 10 and-11 comprises two sections 12 and 13. Each section includes as a part thereof an inclined upper and lower track 14- and 15 respectively. Each section has a curved track terminal end 16 and 17 respectively. As each terminal end is identical, and as each side wall structure of each end is identical we will describe but one.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 we see that each end section comprises a bottom wall 18 which supports a vertical side wall 19. A detachable retaining member 20 is secured by means of bolts 21 or the like to the inner face of the side wall 19. A base'member 22 is supported by the bottom wall 18 and has one edge thereof in facial abutment with the side wall 19. This base member has its inner end portion 23 formed to provide a portion of an inclined track 24. Slidably carried between the base member 22 and the retaining member 20 is a terminal end plate 25. This plate 25 includes a U-shaped retaining wall 26 and a center wall 27. One edge of the center wall 27 is arcuated so as to conform to the arcuation of the U-shaped retaining wall 26. The plate 25 is provided with an areuated groove which cooperates with the U-shaped retaining wall 26 to form a reversing track 27. The U-shaped retaining wall 26 cooperates with the arcuated edge of the center wall 27' to provide an inner reversing track 28.

Carried by the side wall 19 and in spaced relation to the retaining wall 20 is a track forming bar 29. This track forming bar is removably connected to the side wall 19 by bolts 30 or the like. The forward end 31 of the bar 29 is tapered vertically out of the long tudinal plane thereof.

A like bottom track forming bar 32 is carried by the side wall 19 in vertical spaced alignment with respect to the upper track forming bar 29. The lower track forming bar 32 has its one end 33 inclined out of its longitudinal plane as seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

A center wall section 34 is disposed between the upper and lower track forming bars 29 and 32 and cooperates therewith to form tracks 28a and 28b therebetween. The upper track forming bar 29 cooperates with the retaining wall 26 to form therebetween a track 27a. The lower track forming bar 32 cooperates with the base member 22 to provide therebetween a lower track 27b. One end 35 of the center wall section 34 is inclined with respect to its longitudinal plane as seen in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description of parts it is readily seen that the upper tracks 27a and 28a converge toward each other and form the upper track 14 at a point beyond the inclined end 31 of the upper track forming bar 29. Likewise tracks 27b and 28b converge and form lower track at a point beyond the end portion 33 of the lower track-forming bar 32.

To the tracks 27 and 23 formed in the terminal end plate 25, we'provide track rails for extending therebetween. These track rails 36, 37, 38, 4% and 41 are fixedly ing'member in order to make the tracks 27a, 27b and T2811, 28b continuous with respect to tracks 27 and 28.

.The method employed by us for slidably connecting the 7 terminal end plate tog ether with the retaining wall 26 and center wall 27 is as follows: The retaining wall 26 and the center Wll"2 7 are formed as an integral unit and are in tu'rn fixedly coimected to the terminal end' plate 25 by two spaced apart'parallel rails 42 and 43.,

14 and 15 will position each step 49 thereof in its normal raised step relation; In order to reverse the direction of movement of the step train at each of the ends 16 and 'in one track in this instance tracks 27, 27a and.27b,

7 while the guide wheels 56 and 57 are transferred and In order to permit slidable adjustmentof these parts I V fhorizontallywith respect toithe bottom wall 18 and the sidewall 19 the rails 42' and 43 are adapted to -frict i0n-.

ally fit into grooves 4 4121116145 formed in the inner face of the side wall 19,se'e Figs.}2, 3 and 4. V V

' The opposite side walls of our escalator as exemplified by sidewall 19 are held in spaced parallel relation by spacer bars 46 and 47. It is noted that spacerbar 46 is fixedly connected to'the center wall 27 and therefore is adjustably carried thereby. It should also be noted lthati the tracks are adapted-to encircle such spacer bars so that such bars will in no way interfere with the operationrof our escalator. V 7

Referring to Fig. 7 we show a perspective fragmen- Eta'ry view 1of our proposed step train 48; fiuch step train consists of a step 49 having side walls 50 and 51 to- V gether with acenter partition 52. A riser 53 is fixedly attached vto'the leading edge of the side walls 50 and 51 'and partition 52; A step tread 53 is removably carried .by the top edge of such walls and partition. The side I walls 50, 51 and partition 52 are substantially triangular 1 in shapejand have a forward'wheel supporting shaft 54 'journalled therethrough adjacent one angle of the trifang'ular shaped walls and partition. Asecond wheel bearing shaft 55 is journalled'through such walls and partition at a second angle thereof. VT he shaft 54 rotatably supports guide wheels 56 and'57. These guide wheels 56 and 57 are positioned exterior of the side walls 50 and 51, immediately adjacent 'lth outer sides thereof. The shaft 55 rotatably supports running wheels 58 and 59. These wheels 58 and 59 are exterior 'of and spaced from the outer faces-of the sidewalls 50'and51. From the foregoing description it is readily apparent "that'the 1 guidefwlieels 56. and 57 are inwardly ofi-s et with respect to therunning wheelsp58 and 59;

Therunning wheels 58 and 59-are1connected to a plurality'of like running wheels 58 and 595 by means of two spacedlapart link arms 60 and 61. The running wheels 58, -59'and 58,-'59 together with' their linkage -comprisingthe arms 69 and 61 are'apart 0f an'endless running wheel arrangement.

. V Pixedly carriedby the shaft54 and infacial abutment with. theinner face of-the side walls 50 and '51 are depending arms 62and '63.. Laterally supported by'the arms '62 and 63 and 'extendingoutwardly with respect thereto isa roller bearing-64nd 65.. It should be noted that these roller bearings64 and 65 are in'vertical alignment with the guide-wheels 5 6 and 57 rotatably supported by the-shaft 54. The ':'purpose and function of the roller V 'b'earings164 and 65 will be hereinafter made apparent. I From the forgoing-description itisclear that the portion of the step trainthat isitraveling through the tracks guided into tracks 28, 23a and 2815. In order to accomplish this result we provide the following structure:

For the purpose of illustration let us assume that the upper track 14 has the step train moving in an upward direction therethrough'and the lower track 15 has the step train returning in a downward direction. As each step of the step train approaches the terminal end 17 the roller bearings 64 and 65 will be caused to engage a track switching means 66. This track switching means. 66 comprises an arcuated membe 67 fixedly mounted to the center wall section 34 a t the end of the lower track 15 as viewed inpFigQZ. The switching member- 66 has its lower edge 63 in horizontal alignment with the upper face of the track :15. and the upperiace of (the track 28b.

The switch member 66 is of. a length so that its one end Pvrtion t ds beyon t e pere ,:3 th W? track formingbar 32., The running wheels 58 and 59 of each of the step units ;of the step train'will by the force of gravitymove down through track 15 .pass beneath the inclined edge 33 of the lower track forming bar 32 and move into track 27b. As the guide wheels 56 and 57 approach the end ofthe track '15 theroller bearings 64 and 65 will engage the upper leading edge 69 of the switching member66 and will prevent the guide wheels from passing into the lower track 27b. The roller bearings 64 and 6 5 will maintain contact withthe switching member 66 until the guide wheels 56 and 57 have been guided into trackZSb, see Fig. 9.

y We contemplate in the operation of our escalator to employ a drive-mechanism that will permit the direction'of the step train tobe controlled so -that it may-moveimeither direction. This-isto say that that portion of the stepjt-rain that is traveling through the track 14 may be utilized to .carry passengers in either direction ie up or down In the event that the step train is traveling in a downward direction through track 14 as each step approaches the lower end of such track, it again requiresv aswitching operation on the guide wheels and-running wheelsof each step. The upper track switching means isshown in Fig.8. As each step moves downwardly through the track 14 the guide wheels 56 and 57 become the leading wheels for each step. As they approach' the terminal gend-1-7 the roller bearings 64 :and 65 will engage a-switch member70. This switch member 70 .is positioned was to present an upper edge that is in surface alignment with the bottom edge of the track :14; In Fig. 8 it is seen that the :roller bearing 65"has engaged the switch member'70 andhas caused the guide wheel 57 to pass beneath theinclined end positive driving connection for each of the steps 49 consists ofa plurality of spaced apart depending gear teeth 72 formed as an integral part of the-center partition 52 of each step49. I r

Between the side wallsbfthe' upper section Ito four escalator is carried a chain drive mechanism. v The supporting "structure for such chain 'drive is not disclosed herein and it may take the form of any convenient structure necessary for such purpose.

Referring to Fig. 11 we show our driving mechanism as including an electric reversible motor 73. This reversible motor 73 in turn drives a driving gear 74. This driving gear 74 has operable connection with an endless chain 75. This chain is adapted to pass around terminal gear wheels 76 and '77. The chain 75 is guided about its circuitous path by upper and lower guide tracks 78 and 79. Each of these guide tracks 78 and 79 has their end portions reversely inclined as at 86, 81 and 82, 83. The guide tracks 78 and 79 are so positioned so as to present the chain 75 into a position whereby the gear teeth 72 of each step 79 can engage such chain. Such an arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 12.

In order to insure proper drive connection between the gear teeth 72 and the chain 75 we form the gear teeth 72 of such a length that they will project into the chain 75. In order to allow such projection the outer faces of each of the tracks 78 and 79 are formed to provide spaced apart slide rails 84 and 85. It is upon these slide rails 84 and 35 that the chain 75 actually travels over. Such construction is shown in Fig. 13 and by this novel arrangement of parts it is clearly shown that the gear teeth 72 may project through the links of the. chain 75.

As previously stated it is our intention that the step train of our escalator be capable of traveling in either direction. In order to control the operation of our escalator we provide a treadway 86 which is adapted to be positioned at each of the landings and 11. This treadway 36 internally provides switch means (not shown for starting and stopping the electric reversible motor 73 of the drive mechanism. Certain of these switches are connected in series and are positioned beneath yieldable switch actuators 87 and 88. Other of these switches are connected in parallel and are closed by like yieldable actuators 89 and 90. The arrangement of these switches results in the following operation. Let us say a person approaches the landing 10 and wishes to start the escalator so that he may travel down the escalator to landing 11. The person will step on the treadway 86 and with each foot step upon the yieldable switch actuators 87 and 88 thus closing a suitable electric circuit for the reversible motor 73. When the person reaches landing 11 he will step upon the treadway 86 at that point and with either foot actuate either of the yieldable switch actuators 89 and 90 so as to disrupt the electric circuit for the reversible motor 73. It is readily apparent that the switches contained in the step treadway 86 on the landing 11 would cause the reversible motor 73 to run in an opposite direction thereby reversing the travel of the step train of our escalator.

As a safety feature each treadway 86 is provided with a slidable edge plate 91 which upon slidable movement in one direction will disrupt the electric circuit to the reversible motor 73. Thus if an object or a person riding the step train does not step oif at the approaching landing the plate 91 will be actuated by engagement of the object or the persons foot thereagainst to stop the running of the escalator. The treadway 86 together with its switches and safety plate is fully described in our copending application Serial No. 829,610.

Attention is directed to Fig. 10 in which we show a modified means for connecting the running wheels 58 and 58 to the trailing shaft 55 of each of the steps 49. In such modified form the shaft 55 extends outwardly from the side walls of the step 49 and passes through a hollow sleeve 92 and extends through the link arms 60 and 61 equally distant with respect to the ends of the link arms 60 and 61 and wheels 58 and 58'. As seen in Figs. 8 and 9 and as can be expected there is a slight clearance between confronting surfaces of the tracks 27b, 28b and the wheels of the step train. In order to reduce to the minimum the amount of play between the wheels and the track faces when the weight of a person or object is placed on the treadle portion of each step 49 it is desirous to of the escalator with a minimum amount of friction and wear.

Each of the two sections 12 and 13 of our escalator are pre-fabricated as standard complementary sections. When placed between floor levels the end 94 of the lower section 13 can be cut oif so as to accommodate installation between levels having various distances therebetween. The number of steps in the step train can'be regulated by adjusting the terminal end plates 25 horizontally with respect to the remaining end portions 16 and 17 of the escalator.

After the sections 12 and 13 have been installed and the tracks 14 and 15 longitudinally aligned, the retaining member 20 carried by each of the side walls is removed. The upper track forming bar 29 carried by each of the side walls is removed. The step train may then be placed so that the running wheels 58 of each step may be placed on the remaining portion 71 of track 27a and the guide wheels 56 may be placed in the track 28a and the continuous train then set into the track system until a continuous step train has been formed in the track system in the escalator. The horizontal adjustment of each of the terminal end plates 25 carried by each of the side Walls of the supporting structure is adjusted to compensate for any diiferences in the required number of full steps for the escalator. In other words when installing the sections 1'2 and 13 between a specific distance of floor levels there might result a surplus or deficitin the form of a percentage of a full step width. The adjustment of the terminal end plates 25 may be readily made to increase or decrease the surplus or deficit.

As is evident from the foregoing description of our improved escalator, the driving means for the step train is located in the upper section 12 between the tracks 14 and 15. It therefore requires that there be a simplified means of access to such driving mechanism for service and necessary repairs if any. This is accomplished through a step construction which permits the removal of the riser and tread portion of a step without the disconnecting of any step from the step train or displacement of the wheels from their respective tracks. This construction of the step can be accomplished in many ways and no specific structure need be specifically shown theref0r.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An escalator comprising complementary upper and lower sections each having spaced apart parallelly extending side walls with the side walls of each section having one end thereof formed to provide horizontally extending end portions, said side walls having formed therein upper and lower inclined tracks with said tracks of each section being longitudinally aligned when said sections are connected together in complementary relationship, said inclined tracks terminating into a plurality of vertically aligned horizontally extending transfer tracks carried by said end portions of said side walls, curved track means slidably mounted on said end portions of said side walls for adjustably connecting correicurved track means is "horizontally adjusted with respect '7 spending ends of said plurality of transfer tracks together in a continuous reversing pattern, means for slidably mounting said'curved track means to said ienrl portions of said side walls for horizontal adjustment'thereof with respect to said plurality of' txansfer tracks, and horizontally extending track extension means fixedly carried I by said curved track means cooperating with said .plu

r-ality of transfer tracks for maintaining .a continuous endless track during slidable horizontal adjustment of said curved traclg means with respect to said plurality of transfer tracks. I V

2. An escalator as defined by claim 1 wherein the nreans for slidably mounting said curved track means to said end portions of said side walls comprises spaced a plurality of transfer tracks, said track bars movable horizontally into corresponding grooves formed said plur'ality of transfer tracks when said cnrved track means Q horizontally adjusted with respect thereto. f a

'4. An escalator as defined by cl'irn 1 herein the means for slidably mounting said curved track means 7 V 1 {to said end portions ;of said side walls comprises spaced apart guide "rails carried by said;curvcd traclrmeans and slidably projecting into spaced apart vertically aligned horizontally extending grooves formed in the coniront'ing faces of said cndiportions of 7 said side walls, and wherein the track extension means fixedly carried by the said curved track means comprising laterally extending track "bars having certain edges thereof in 'horizontal alignment with said plurality of transfer tracks, said track bars movable horizontally into corresponding grooves formed in said iplurality of'trans'fer tracks when said thereto.

5. An escalator comprlsing a circulatory endless track 7 "having inclined horizontalandcurved sections through which 'an endless gwheeled step train is adapted to;be

:nrovcd, meansrfor horizontally adjusting the {curved sec- :45

tions of said track relative to the '-horizontaljtracl; section without interrupting the continuity of said circulatory endless track; said horizontalisections provided with a j plurality of vertically ugpea track paths forjg'uiding certain :wheels "of eachfstep: of said wheeled "step train I so as to change the relationship of each step *with respect to the next succeeding step duringits travel through *said horizontal track is ections, means for guiding "said 'certain "wheels of each'step ofsaidwheeled'trainintor'ase lected track'path of=saidjplurality'offtrachpaths, wheel gtiiding means carriedby each ofisaid's teps for guiding a 7 other 'wheelsof each of said "steps into a selectivetrack 'path'o'f said plurality of'track paths, anddriving means periodically operatively connected -to each step OffSEld step train 'for moving said "step-train through said endless 'track.

6. Ari-escalator as defined iby claim 5:inwhich said" means for guiding certain wheels of each :step 'into .a

' selected track path includes a -switch:inemher'mounted adjacent confronting ends of said inclined 'track-' section an'd said horizontal track sections.

7. An escalator as defined by ;5 wherein sai wheel guiding means on each step for aid other wheels of each of said step includes 5 depend ng rol e bearing laterally extending irom each step adapted t engage said guiding means and direct th mov men f said certain wheels of each stcpinto a selecte track path as it passes from said inclined track section to said hori- :zontal track section; 4 s

8.,An escalator as defined by claim .5 in which said driving means includes .a reversible endless link chain rotated about spaced apart gear wheels carried by said inclined track section, and an electric reversible'motor for drivingsa'id link chain. 1 r

, 9. An escalator :comprising a circulatory endless track having inclined horizontal and curved sections through which an endless wheeled step train is adapted to be moved, means for horizontally adjusting the curved sections of said track relative to the horizontal track section, said horizontal sections provided with a plurality of wertically aligned track paths for guidingcertain wheels of each step or said wheeled step .so as :to change the relationship of each step with respect to the next succeeding step during its t-ravclrthrough said horizontal track sections, means for g uiding said certain-Wheels of each step of said Wheeled step train into a selected track pathsof said plurality of track paths, a driving meansior said endless :wheeled step train, said .driving means having operative connection with .each step of said step train for *rnoving the same through saidi endless "track, means carried adjacent said -inclined'track sections for positioning said driving means inoperative connection with each step of said step train for moving the same-through the circulatory endless track, and means provided by each step for cooperating with said idr iving means for operatively connecting eaoh'sstep periodically to said driving means. 7

10. ,An escalator as defined-by claim -9 wherein the said means on eachl step cooperating with .said driving means-includes ;a;plurality of gear teeth,

ll. An escalator as defined by claim 9 in-which-said driving means includes a reversible endless f-linkchain rotated about spaced apart ge'ar wheels carried by said inclined track section, and an electric reversible motor for driving said link chainQ 12. An'escalator as defined by claimQiHcIuding-track extension means fixedly "carried by said curved track section adapted to cooperatewith said pluralityi of track paths provided T-by said horizontal :track section': during horizontal adjustment 0f said curved track'section with "respect to said horizontal track section {or maintaining 'acontinuous endlcss'traokf fo'r said -wheeled step'train.

13. An escalator as defined by claim;l2 wherein the track extension means fixedlycarriedbysaid curved track 7 7 section comprises laterally'extending track -bars -having certain edges thereof 1'njhorizontal alignment wvith said plurality of 'trackpaths, said track bars movable horizontally into corresponding-groovesjforrned said horiz'ontal track sections adjacentgsaid gpluralityof-track; paths wvhen said curvedtrack ;se c tion"jis horizontally adjusted with respect thereto. 

